GAMBIER, Ohio – For the first time in program history, the Kenyon College Lords soccer team won a third consecutive North Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship. Wednesday's 2-0 home win against Oberlin College sealed the deal for the Lords, who now own a total of nine conference crowns since first starting NCAC play in 1984.

The regular-season championship guarantees Kenyon the No. 1 seed and home field advantage throughout next week's four-team NCAC postseason tournament. The Lords' tournament trail will commence Wednesday, November 1 with a semifinal game at Mavec Field, beginning at 2 p.m. The Lords' semifinal opponent will be determined after Saturday's slate of conference games concludes.

Wednesday, the Lords chipped away at the Oberlin defense, but just couldn't crack through in the first half of play. In the game's 13th minute, the Lords had two chances spoiled. Henry Myers took the first of those two shots, but it was blocked on its way toward the goal. John Penas ended up with the deflection and fired it back on goal, but Oberlin goalkeeper Fiachra McDonagh was in position to make the save.

The Lords (13-2-2, 8-0-0 NCAC) had a few more opportunities in the first half, but none better than Jack Cohen's look within the last minute. He, too, was the recipient of deflection. This one, however, Cohen needed to play off a bounce. He timed his shot just right, but got under the ball a little too much and it sailed just a couple inches over the Oberlin crossbar.

Kenyon outshot Oberlin 8-2 in the first half, but it wasn't until the second half that the Lords finally broke through. In the game's 65th minute, junior Brice Koval dribbled into the left side of the Oberlin box. He juked one defender by faking left and going right. That move left a clear shot and Koval did not miss. He buried his fifth goal of the season into the left side of the net.

About seven minutes after that goal, Kenyon produced another threat as senior Oliver Wynn found himself under a high corner kick from Greg McNeer. Wynn headed the ball toward the right side of the goal, but McDonagh sprawled out to make the save.

Wynn got another chance in the game's 82 minute. This time a pass from McNeer went to Myers. Myers then sent it to Wynn, who finished and doubled the Lords' lead with his fourth goal of the season.

Kenyon, recently bumped up to the No. 9 spot in the United Soccer Coaches latest national poll, wound up outshooting Oberlin 20-3. Kenyon keeper Ian McInturf didn't have to make a save, as all three Oberlin shots were off target. The shutout was the eighth of the season for both McInturf and the Lords.

Before postseason play gets underway next week, the Kenyon men will travel to Allegheny College on Saturday for the regular-season finale against the Gators.